You're asking me what??

allnurses Guide · Nov 9, 2011

Most of your education will come from hands-on experience on the floor. It's the best way to learn but you need a foundation to work from. You are getting the foundation in class and clinical.

Also, the family may ask you if the vitals are okay, but you need to refer them to the nurse. It is not your place to interpret vitals, so just let the family know this kindly.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2011

I was in clinicals for my CNA class earlier this year, and I went in to a stroke patient's room to take vital signs. He was awake, but could not speak, and his 2 daughters were there. After taking BP, RR, temp etc, they asked me if everything was ok. What?!? You're asking ME??? What do I know??? This was my first experience of actual responsibility. They were expecting ME to tell them that everything was ok (or not), and I was just a student...and not even a nursing student!
Now, I am almost done with semester 2 out of 4 of an ADN program. I still feel the same way...like I know NOTHING! Yes, knowledge comes with experience...I get that...but do you ever just feel like this is all for nothing? Not nothing, I guess, but I feel like there is a vast difference between lecture and "real-world". I also get the "jumping thru hoops" thing, but really? How is this preparing me for what's to come?
I guess I'm just frustrated, and feel stagnant at the moment.
Anyone else? $0.02?
:)

Just tell the them the truth as far as you know it within your scope of practice. "I'm checking his vital signs and everything I checked looks OK." or "I'll tell your nurse you have some questions you need answered." Sometimes family members don't know if you are a nurse, a doctor, a lab tech or what so go ahead and talk to them about who you are and what you are doing.

The issues you bring up all get better with experience. I would suggest getting a part time job as a CNA while you are in school to get a bit of the "real world" experience you are looking for. It helps!

mitral · Nov 9, 2011

I enjoy the fact that I can still say "Im just a student, i'll let your real nurse answer this for you." I say it with a smile and it usually gets a laugh in return. For now, its ok to not know anything, so im enjoying learning without all the responsibility just yet! Also, pretty much everyone in my program has said that they didnt really feel like they knew anything until around the 4th semester, so dont panic, you have a long way to go still :)

yooper13 · Nov 10, 2011

Thanks for the replies! So, I guess the gist is: I'm not expected to know anything! Good to know!

brillohead, ADN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

Thanks for the replies! So, I guess the gist is: I'm not expected to know anything! Good to know!

That's an easy expectation to meet, huh? LOL

MomBak2Skool · Nov 11, 2011

I'm also in an ADN program, finishing up my first semester. We are expected to educate our client within the scope of our knowledge. Basically, anything we've learned so far in lectures and on-campus labs, we should be able to explain to a client. Of course, if they have questions regarding their specific care plan, disease, etc. we still refer them to their RN or doctor. But for a situation such as taking vital signs, as long as you know the normal ranges for BP, RR, temp, etc. (which was one of our first lectures) I don't think there would be anything wrong with saying they are within the normal ranges. If their numbers don't fall within the normal range (after re-checking) I would let the RN know and tell the family you would be more comfortable with the RN explaining any out-of-range measurements.

dandk1997RN, MSN, RN · Nov 20, 2011

I'm finishing my third semester of nursing school and I'm finally at a point where I can answer some of the questions myself and do some of the patient education. I will tell you, though, that I feel like a pretender. I can understand the pathophys perfectly, but I still don't feel like I'm qualified to explain it to a real-living-breathing-human-being patient. Case in point: I had a pt with SVT- HR of 170. Her daughter wanted to know why the change in mental status had occurred and why she was suddenly so tired. I explained what was going on (HR of 170= low CO and poor tissue perfusion, meaning a lack of adequate oxygen to the brain and extremities, etc.) and it all made sense to her once I explained it to her, but I still didn't feel like I had the right to explain it to her, even though I do.

Anything I don't understand 100% gets passed off to my co-assigned, but honestly, half the time, they don't explain it any better than I would. The other day I found myself going to a reputable medical website for dietary info for my pt when our care notes had nothing, and I think my co-assigned would have done the same. At some point, we are just going to become more comfortable with this, I think.

Mentalageis16 · Nov 21, 2011

sometimes the families would like comfort more than the patient does. living suffers more than death, and it is true, but it doesn' mean death is the end of everything, it's the beginning of other negative outcomes, especially to ppl who were close to the person who died.

Or, sometimes they are asking because they really need to know an exact answer, in this case refer them to someone who's more experienced. Just stay on the side and listen but don't make any comments.

I feel nursing is based on common sense combined with basic medical knowledge which requires you to be on top of your interpersonal skills and be empathtic to patients and their families.